Chancellor of Austria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federal Chancellor of Republic of Austria |
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| Chancellery | |
| Style | Mr Chancellor His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Member of | Cabinet European Council National Security Council |
| Seat | Chancellery Building Ballhausplatz, Innere Stadt, Vienna |
| Appointer | President |
| Term length | No fixed term |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Austria |
| Precursor | Minister-President of Cisleithania |
| Formation | 30 October 1918 |
| First holder | Karl Renner |
| Deputy | Vice-Chancellor |
| Salary | €306,446 annually |
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The Chancellor of Austria is the main leader of the Austrian government. Their official title is the Federal Chancellor of the Republic of Austria (in German, Bundeskanzler der Republik Österreich). Think of them as the "prime minister" of Austria.
Since Austria became a republic, twenty-nine people have held this important job. The current Chancellor is Christian Stocker. He started his role on March 3, 2025.
Contents
What Does the Chancellor Do?
The Chancellor is a very important person in Austria's government. They lead the cabinet, which is a team of top government officials. This team includes the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, and other ministers.
How Does the Chancellor Work with the President?
Austria is a parliamentary republic. This means the head of government (the Chancellor) has a lot of power. However, the President is the head of state. Many big decisions need the President's approval. The Chancellor often needs the President's agreement to make major changes.
How Does the Chancellor Work with Parliament?
The Chancellor's power also depends on their political party. This party must have many members in the National Council. The National Council is like Austria's main parliament. If no single party has a majority, different parties might form a coalition cabinet. In this case, the Chancellor is usually from the party with the most seats. The Vice-Chancellor often comes from another party in the coalition.
Where Does the Chancellor Work?
The Chancellor's main office is in the Chancellery building. This building is in the heart of Vienna, Austria's capital city. Both the Chancellor and the cabinet members are chosen by the President. The President can also remove them from their positions.
A Brief History of the Chancellor's Role
The word "Chancellor" (Kanzler in German) has a long history. It comes from a Latin word meaning a person in charge of an office. This title has been used in Austria for centuries.
Early Chancellors
In the past, chancellors were often in charge of writing important documents. They worked for emperors and kings. Over time, their role grew more important.
From Monarchy to Republic
After World War I, Austria became a republic. The first head of government for the new republic was called the State Chancellor. This was Karl Renner. Later, the title changed to Federal Chancellor. This is the title used today. The Constitution of Austria officially created the role of Federal Chancellor on November 10, 1920.
How is the Chancellor Chosen?
The President chooses and officially appoints the Chancellor. Anyone who can be elected to the National Council can become Chancellor. This means any Austrian citizen over 18 years old.
Why is Parliament's Trust Important?
Even though the President appoints the Chancellor, the Chancellor needs the support of the National Council. If the National Council doesn't trust the Chancellor, they cannot govern effectively. Because of this, the Chancellor is usually the leader of the largest political party in the National Council. Or, they are the leader of the main party in a coalition government.
What About Term Limits?
There are no limits on how long a Chancellor can serve. When the National Council is dissolved (meaning new elections are called), the Chancellor usually offers to resign. However, the President often asks them to stay on as a temporary leader until a new government is formed.
How are Ministers Appointed?
The Chancellor is appointed first. Then, the Chancellor suggests a list of ministers to the President. The President then appoints these ministers. Neither the Chancellor nor the ministers need approval from parliament to start their jobs. They begin working right after they are sworn in.
Can the Chancellor Be Removed?
Yes, the National Council can vote to remove a Chancellor or a minister. This is called a vote of no confidence. If this vote passes, the President must remove the person. This shows how important it is for the Chancellor to have the support of the National Council. The first time a Chancellor was removed this way in Austria was in May 2019, when Sebastian Kurz was removed.
What Powers Does the Chancellor Have?
The Chancellor leads the meetings of the cabinet. The Austrian constitution says the Chancellor is like a "first among equals" (primus inter pares). This means they are the leader, but they don't directly order other ministers around. Their power comes from their leadership role in the main political party or coalition. It also comes from the fact that the President will remove ministers if the Chancellor asks.
Key Responsibilities of the Chancellor
The Chancellor has many important jobs. They help make sure government decisions are official and announced to the public. They also act as a link between different parts of the government. For example, the Chancellor:
- Sends new laws passed by the National Council to the President for approval.
- Helps make laws official by signing them after the President.
- Announces new laws to everyone.
- Announces international agreements (treaties) that Austria joins.
- Announces decisions from the Constitutional Court.
- Announces the results of Presidential elections.
- Notifies local governments about new laws that need their agreement.
What Happens if the President Can't Work?
If the President is temporarily unable to do their job, the Chancellor steps in as Acting President. However, if the President is unable to work for more than twenty days, or if they pass away, then the three Presidents of the National Council take over as Acting President.
See also
In Spanish: Canciller de Austria para niños
- Politics of Austria
- Constitution of Austria
- Austrian Government
- List of chancellors of Austria
- Vice-Chancellor of Austria
- Chancellery of Austria
- President of Austria
Images for kids
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Federal Chancellery on Ballhausplatz, where the Chancellor works.
